Online clothing boutique

Online shoppers in your niche who want a curated range rather than a huge department store choice.

You buy at wholesale and sell at retail price. The gap between the two, minus shipping, returns, payment fees and advertising, is your profit.

• Spotting what your niche wants
• Basic online shop setup
• Photography and product descriptions
• Stock and order tracking

• Register for GST/HST once your sales pass the small supplier threshold, and check provincial sales tax rules (PST/QST) for where you and your customers are
• Returns are common in clothing, so set a clear returns policy and budget for them
• Unsold stock ties up cash, so start with small orders
• Check clothing labelling rules (fibre content, care and bilingual labels) if you sell your own or imported brands
• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence
• Shipping costs across a large country can eat into margins

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,500 to $8,000, depending on how much opening stock you buy, your shop setup and photography. Starting with small orders helps avoid tying up cash in unsold stock.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $500 to $4,000, depending on your niche, range and marketing. Returns are common in clothing and shipping across Canada can eat into margins, so budget for both.

Check when to register for GST/HST once sales pass the small supplier threshold, and provincial sales tax rules (PST/QST). Check clothing labelling rules, including fibre content, care and bilingual labels, and whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence.